The Impact of Contemporary Technology on Shell Structures: Material and Light Solutions

Abstract

With the development of technology and the materials used, shell structures have developed into more complex forms. This article is a comparison between contemporary and historical shell structures. The change is an effect of the evolution in the design process that is the result of parametric design thinking. The study aims to investigate the impact of new technologies on the architectural form of shell structures. Was there any pivot point in the history of shell structures? The secondary objective of the study is the focus on lighting in such forms and their evolution with the view of the evolution of lighting solutions applied in architecture. With the use of new technologies, shell structures can have a new form and complex detail. They may vary in scale from small objects to large-scale structures.